The Left Hand of Darkness

Rating:
Summary: Good old fashioned Sci-Fi
Review: Having been a Sci-Fi fan for many years now, it is with some shame that it has taken me this long to get around to reading anything by Ursula Le Guin. It will not be the last.

This is good old fashioned Sci-Fi, not necessarily the finest of narrative styles that I have encountered, but a fascinating idea upon which to hang and explore a story. At its heart a first contact story, but instead of between mankind and aliens between to long seperated sub-groups of the human family. The visitor is a single resentative/ diplomat, recognisably human who has been sent to extend an invite to join the Ekumenical, a loose confederacy of human worlds dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and experience. The world to which he is sent to make contact is Winter, populated by a race of Humans who are hemaphroditic, the result of a genetic experiment by a previous civilisation.

What results is a fascinating exploration of the biases and misconceptions that both sides hold, and ultimately how despite both parties inherent differences, how they still share a common humanity.

Rating:
Summary: One of the great SciFi novels
Review: This novel stands as a monument to what a future-history novel can be, as opposed to what they usually are--which is to say, pretty silly. (And I say that as a life-long fan of speculative fiction in all its guises.)

LeGuin grew up in a household of anthropologists, and her science fiction novels all reflect a mind fascinated with the most essential questions of what it is that defines us as human, and what it is that defines our cultures. Each one of the great Hainish future-history series, a very loosely collected string of novels set in a galactic diaspora a long time from now in a galaxy very much at hand, explores a single aspect of human relations; as a science-fiction writer, LeGuin is able to create a world that serves as a custom-built laboratory for the examination of that trait. In The Disposessed, she explores the relationship of ownership to power. In Four Ways to Forgiveness, she explores... well, you know.

Here, the topic is simple: gender and sex. LeGuin posits a world, Winter/Gehenna (a Hebrew word for hell), in which the local variant of the human gene stock live in an androgenous state except while in kemmer, when they are briefly metamorphosed into either female or male form--the transformation is determined by environmental forces, rather than personal predilection, so the individual may kemmer as a female in one cycle and a male in another. Now think about how profoundly that would alter everything about human culture. Even in our modern world, where we like to pretend that individuals are not defined by their gender, we can't get past the simple biological facts that define the differences between the genders, not even to mention the social mores that enforce sexual roles.

What makes her work particularly amazing is that, in exploring huge issues, she tells stories of enormous specificity with compelling characters. In this novel we follow two, in particular--a native of Gahenna named Estraven and an off-worlder, a male observer for the Ekumen (the 'federation' of star-faring civilizations) named Genly Ai. He and Estraven struggle with both his own preconceptions of gender and love, and Estraven's. The story takes them on an amazing journey of mutual self-discovery that is both touching and eye-opening.

Read this book and you will never think about questions of sex and gender the same way again.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but dark...and cold
Review: I enjoyed this book, although I thought it was a little bit slow at times. I also thought that the setting was focused on a little too much for my liking (much like in Dune), and I wished I could have learned more about the characters, and the politics and society of Winter, instead of just the environment.
This book was a little dark, and cold, but I definitely enjoyed it and will look to read more of Le Guin.

Rating:
Summary: Le Guin is TOTALLY a Science Fiction Writer!
Review: Before I get to the main part of my review, I'd just like to point out that the reviewer who claimed that LeGuin is not an SF writer is dead wrong on many, many levels. Beginning with what he thinks "sci-fi" is. It's not all weird aliens and space battles. In fact, most good SF (not 'sci-fi', an important distinction) is about ideas and explorations and What-if questions.

In this way, Le Guin is one of the greatest SF writers of all time. And she's shelved with the SF writers because she's published by an SF publisher and has, on many, many occasions, said that she is indeed an SF writer. She also writes fantasy. If you asked her, she would tell you she does write SF and to think otherwise is to misunderstand her work and the genre of Science Fiction as a whole.

Now, on to my review:

This is the first book of Ursula K. Le Guin's that I have read. I decided to start with the classics and work my way up to her newer stuff. Now I understand why this is a classic work of science fiction. It is truly wonderful.

In the beginning, I wasn't really drawn in. I felt a little out of place, untethered, for the first chapter or so. I knew what the book was about, vaguely, and so had a little outside grounding. The second chapter, which is a folk tale (or oral history, however you want to look at it) from the world of Gethen, or Winter, piqued my interest more than the first chapter.

It wasn't until chapter three, when one of the main characters, Mr. Ai, has his audience with the King, that I felt the pull of the story on me. After that, I was hooked. I had sunk down into the world Le Guin created and it took much to pull me out again.

Mr. Ai I found to be a maddening character, and as we are seeing things from his point of view for most of the beginning, I really felt that I was getting to know him. The characterization is excellent, obviously, because I found Ai maddening, but only in the way that characters who feel very real can be. His misunderstanding with the book's other main character, Estraven, is interesting because it is Ai's failure to understand people differently gendered from him (be it women in his own culture, or the fluid-gendered people on Gethen) is one of the central themes in the book. I want to beat him over the head for it.

I enjoyed being in Estraven's POV much more, and I like how his voice is so different from Ai's. It was a real jolt to come to the chapter where he finally shows us his version of the events that have transpired. But a lovely jolt, because it came at just the right time for me.

On the surface of it, Left Hand, like Dune, seems to be skirting the edge of creating a world where these is only one ecology -- that of a perpetual winter. Also like Dune, this is not the case. Le Guin gives us a very plausible world in the midst of an ice age. Still habitable, but human life limited by the environment. The world of Gethen is just as much a character as Ai and Estraven, and just as intriguing.

This book has all of the elements of great fiction: Story, Idea, Characters, excellent Prose.

My edition also came with an essay by the author that talks about how science fiction isn't necessarily about predicting the future. This book certainly is not, according to the author. It was very much a comment on the present, and still is. One would hope that in the future there would not still be men like Mr. Ai. Or, at least, that they would not be chosen as people to make first contact with alien societies. Ai strikes me as the kind of men found in abundance in late 1960's America, and still found in some corners of 21st century America. It works extremely well in this setting and exemplifies one of the things SF does best.

Rating:
Summary: Gotta love Le Guin
Review: Although this is not my favourite Le Guin text, she proves yet again the strength and dexterity of her talent as a writer. As with any sci-fi book, it does take the reader a good few chapters to acclimate to the new world with which we are introduced. The beginning and middle of the book did drag slightly, (I'm not a huge sci-fi fan) but the ending and conclusion of the book had me mesmorized. I did not want to put it down until I knew how it would turn out. Don't let people lead you to much before reading this book, as the path of discovery is equally important for the protagonist and reader. Have fun, and enjoy it.

vp

Rating:
Summary: This for the skeptics
Review: Before I read Ursula LeGuin's novel, The Left Hand of Darkness, I was already an avid reader of science fiction greats such as Alfred Bester, Theodore Sturgeon, and Orson Scott Card. I will say it now: Ursula LeGuin is completely unique. In a century that has already abandoned the old literary rules, LeGuin keeps them intact.

LeGuin can write great as far as literary terms are concerned--college professors and purists will love her writing style. This is her biggest strength. However, it's also her greatest fault, as there is not much dialogue and the characters are all but completely empty.

The story revolves around and envoy sent from Terra (Earth) to persuade the people of the planet Winter to join an interplanetary alliance known as Ekumen. It follows the main character, Genly Ai, through the world of Winter as he bridges the gap between their two worlds.

Ursula LeGuin obviously has an imagination. The race of Winter are able to change sex when they are ready to reproduce, and hence every person is both a man and a woman.

I will say it once: if you're looking for books you will read for pure enjoyment, this is probably not for you. This book is interesting, very interesting, but fails to ever get exciting or connect you to the characters (as is the case with all of LeGuin's novels, take 'A Wizard of Earthsea' for example).

I do, however, reccommend that everyone that picks this book up reads to at least a third the way through, because even if you don't find yourself connected to the characters or story, you find yourself engrossed in the ideas of LeGuin and the planet of Winter.

It is a masterpiece of science fiction, definitely. Is it filled with action? No. Does it have suspense? No. Is the story very exciting? No. Is the book good? Yes, quite. And as much as my review contradicts itself, if you find yourself wondering whether or not you want to read it--pay attention to my rating. I rate hard, and 4/5 is a good read.

Rating:
Summary: IMHO, ss good as Science Fiction gets.
Review: Loved this book. I've read it several times over the years, and recently had to repurchase as I had loaned out my copy a few years ago.
Ms. Le Guin's perspective on Sci-Fi (and in my opinion a true perspective) does not focus on big laser fights, shiny spaceships, or bursting cyber-corsets. Not that there isn't romance, adventure, etc.
She uses the frame of an alternate reality, removed by space, time, and history, to explore the alien worlds lying beneath the surface of humanity. A socio-cosmic micro-(or tele)scope.
Also check out the collection of short stories, "Worlds of Exile and Illusion" which are also set in the same "universe" as Left Hand of Darkness.

Rating:
Summary: It is worth reading over - I've reread it many times!
Review: A friend of mine gave me this book as a gift. I really didn't care much for it at the time (the mid-80's). However, as time went on - and I reread the book (many times) - I grew to love the concept that Ms LeGuin conceived. A society that has no bias of gender - where rape does NOT exist - where anyone - and I do mean ANYONE has the potential to be one's lover. THAT is what I call a facinating concept. As I said, I've grown to really appreciate this novel - and I wish that she'd written more about the people of Gethan.

Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I've read a lot of scifi, fantasy, etc but this has got to the about the biggest waste of time that I've experienced in a long time. Single dimensional characters, plot that crawls along, just really boring. I ended up not caring if any of the characters survived.
Don't waste your time, try Joanne Bertin or Melaine Rawn or Mercedes Lackey, Anne McCaffrey or even MZ Bradley.

Rating:
Summary: Another World
Review: Le Guin has created book that takes the reader to another world using imagery to paint a vivid portrait in the mind of the reader. A race without gender, such as the one that Le Guin shows us, has infinite possibilities and infinite flaws. A world blanketed by a never-ending winter that is hostile even to its inhabitants. An envoy sent to offer alliance and to be patient for acceptance.
The main character, Ai, is this envoy. He is faced with an almost impossible task, he has to first convince a genderless race to accept him a male, and he then has to persuade them to accept his proposal for alliance. Ai spends his first year overcoming such prejudices and delays, and is faced with more years containing the same tediousness. He then meets Estraven, a native willing to look past the handicap of Ai's gender. Together they must succeed with Ai's mission, and they must learn to love each other, much as we must look past prejudices.